Electronic device case with rotating and sliding strap

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a novel portable electronic device case capable of being held with as little as one finger, depending on the size of the portable electronic device case, via an integrated elastic strap on the back of a portable electronic device case providing a secure grip to the case using up to two fingers. The case includes several components that when assembled in the proper order, as described by example herein, gives the user the ability to slide the elastic strap up and down about 76% of the length of the electronic portable case while at the same time spinning the electronic portable case 360 degrees anywhere located in the sliding path of the carved out oval in the base case.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/737,875 filed Dec. 17, 2012, and entitled “ELECTRONIC DEVICE CASE WITH ROTATING AND SLIDING STRAP” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of portable hand held electronic devices. More specifically, the invention comprises of an electronic portable hand held device case strap capable of holding said case and device securely with as little as one finger via an integrated strap on the back of said case that will allow the case to spin and slide replacing the conventional portable hand held electronic device case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since the early 2000s there has been an influx of portable hand held electronic devices, more commonly referred to as portable cellular phones, smart phones and small flat computers that are designed with a proportionally large glass viewing screen/interface areas. With the new technology advancing at great leaps and bounds, the internal components of these devices are decreasing in size thus making the cellular phones, smart phones and small computer very thin in design. The cellular phones, small computers and computer phones share a term used by manufactures of the above name devices, they are commonly referred to as portable electronic devices.

Since the invention of the portable electronic devices, there has also been a market and need for carrying cases and protective cases for the portable electronic devices. These cases are made of multiple materials ranging from hard plastics, silicone or leather. The cases are designed to form tightly around the devices with the design openings at the appropriate location for the operation of the devices, connection for external communications, speaker openings as well as head phone connections. The cases are marketed to the consumer as protection against scratches, chips and breakage to the glass interface. If the consumer happens to drop the portable electronic device and the glass interface breaks or shatters, the consumer can expect to spend upwards of $150 to get the portable electronic device's screen replaced. The cases also have holsters with clips that allow attachment to clothing, belts, purses and the like. When the consumer releases the portable electronic device from the holster for operation, the case is now in the hands of the consumer where the chance of dropping the device increases. The small computer is too big for the holster so the preferred method of carrying the device is under the arm or like a book. This method of transportation tends to produce a greater chance of dropping the device thus leading to possible breakage when said device hits the ground.

In recent years there has been a new trend to portable electronic devices, the manufactures coined the term tablet. The design of the tablet is very thin. The tablet offers a computer screen with an on screen display of a keyboard for one of several means of communication with the tablet. The configuration of the tablet allows the tablet to be held in the hand(s) in either a vertical or horizontal position for operation. With all of the portable electronic devices, one of the more common ways the user is able to operate, control and interact with the portable electronic devices is using their hands. For example, with the invention of smart phone, these portable electronic devices allow for several means of communications via normal talking through the smart phone or via texting messages using the on screen QWERTY keyboard. The user can hold the smart phone upright or vertical position to enter the phone number through an on screen numeric keypad, than switch the phone to the horizontal position to communicate via the QWERTY keyboard on the smart phone to enter text messages to the recipient. These shifts to the portable electronic devices during operation, or when stowing, will increase the probability the user will lose control of the grip to the portable electronic device and drop the device to the ground resulting in possible damage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a case designed for portable electronic devices providing a secure grip via an integrated strap position on the back of the portable electronic device case. When assembled in the proper component order, the case will allow the user to slide the strap up and down approximately 76% of the length of the case and spin 360 degrees while being supported with one finger. In some embodiments, the case has a defined inside opening allowing the portable electronic device to fit firmly into a specified molded case. In some embodiments, the outside of the case may be molded to the specified portable electronic device external definition, with all appropriate openings for normal fully operations of said portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the invention further comprises an integrated strap attached to a circular top disc via two slits in the disc. The elastic strap may be attached to the top disc when the strap is inserted through the two slits, equal to the width of the strap, at the opposite ends of the circular disc, then the strap's ends are over laid on top of each other and attached via a common spur washer on the underneath of the top disc. In these embodiments, wherein the top disc, the rectangle sliding bar and the bottom disc are assembled as one unit, the 2½ sphere bars on the end of the rectangle sliding bar may lie in the 2 open channels of the base disc. In one embodiment, the final piece will be the top disc aligning the top latch with the open groove of the base disc. To operate the novel case as described herein, the user will only need to slip his/her finger(s) underneath the elastic strap to have a secure grip on the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a base case as perspective left side view.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a base case as a perspective right side bottom view.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a bottom disc as a side view, top perspective view and bottom perspective view.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section view of an example of a bottom disc, top disc, plateau wall support ring, elastic strap and screw holes openings on both the top disc and bottom disc.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a rectangle sliding bar in two side views, top view and perspective bottom view.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of a top disc in a side view, full bottom view and a bottom perspective view.

FIG. 6A depicts an example of a top disc in two side views, full top view and a perspective top view.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an elastic strap from various views.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the insert in a bottom perspective left view.

FIG. 9 represents an example of the insert in a left sided perspective top view.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the insert in a bottom right perspective.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the left complete perspective view of an example of an assembled case.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a right complete perspective view of an example of an assembled case.

FIG. 13 depicts an example of an exploded top perspective view of an example of a complete case.

FIG. 14 shows a left complete perspective view of an example of an exploded right bottom perspective view of an example of a complete case.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS (non-limiting examples)  10 electronic portable device  20 top case  30 top case key plateau  35 Insert  40 Insert keys cutout's opening  50 left slider channel  60 right slider channel  70 carved oval cut out  80 camera, microphone and camera flash oval opening.  90 bottom disc 100 Bottom disc key 110 Bottom disc raised plateau 112 Bottom disc strap cutout 116 Bottom disc screw holes 120 rectangle sliding bar 130 rectangle sliding bar center opening 140 left ½ sphere bar 150 right ½ sphere bar 160 top disc 165 Top disc screw holes 170 Top disc strap cutout 175 Plateau wall support ring 180 Top disc key cutout 185 Top disc strap slits 190 elastic strap 230 oval cut out 240 U groove 30 degree opening for the camera, microphone and camera flash 250 carved cut out for rectangle sliding bar

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

The present invention will now be described by way of example wherein the figures and description below are meant to enable but not limit the invention. One skilled in the art will understand that there are multiple implementations and configurations contemplated herein which may be used to construct the invention.

When referring to the figures, FIG. 11 shows a complete left perspective view of an example of an assembled portable electronic device case (sometimes called “the case” or “case”) according to some embodiments described herein. The portable electronic device top case (20) FIG. 11 comprises various components that include an elastic strap (190) FIG. 11 mounted on the top disc (160) FIG. 11. The elastic strap (190) FIG. 11 is designed to stretch and retract on demand to allow one or two fingers, depending on the size of the fingers, to slip underneath the elastic strap (190) FIG. 11 providing a secure grip to the electronic device case providing the user the capability to maneuver the case by sliding the strap up and down approximately 76% of the length of the electronic device case while at the same time spinning the electronic device case 360 degrees anywhere along the slide path.

In some embodiments, the elastic strap (190) FIG. 7 is attached to the top disc (160) FIG. 11 creating the initial functionality for the secure grip to the portable electronic device case. The elastic strap's ends are inserted into the two slits (185) FIG. 6 that are cut out on opposite ends of the top disc (160) FIG. 6 with the width equal to that of the strap's width and the thickness slightly less than the thickness of the elastic strap. Elastic strap (190) FIG. 7 material is pulled through each end of the top disc slits (185) FIG. 6, laid down in the top disc strap cutout (170) FIG. 6 and overlapped at which a common spur washer is inserted underneath the ends of the strap and crimped to make the two ends attached. The rectangle sliding bar (120) depicted in FIG. 5, with the ½ sphere bars, (140) and (150), pointing toward the ground, is inserted over the top disc plateau wall support ring (175) FIG. 6, on the underneath of the top disc (160) FIG. 6. Next, the bottom disc raised plateau (110) FIG. 3 of the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 will need to be inserted into the bottom of the top disc (160) FIG. 6 and the bottom disc raised plateau (110) FIG. 3 will reside inside the top disc plateau wall support ring (175) FIG. 6. To make a tight connection between the top disc (160) FIG. 6, the rectangle sliding bar (120) FIG. 5 and the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3, the bottom disc keys (100) FIG. 3 and the top disc keys cutout (180) FIG. 6 need to be aligned for the three pieces to form a tight connection. Once the pieces are snapped together, two small metal screws will be screwed into the bottom of the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 through the bottom disc screw holes (116) FIG. 3 and protrude upwards to the top disc screw holes (165) FIG. 6 thus making a secure and tight connection between all three pieces. In preferred embodiments, to make the top disc (160) FIG. 6 and the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 spin in coherence while the rectangle sliding bar (120) FIG. 5 remains in the same stationary position. To allow the top and bottom disc to spin freely and in coherence, the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 raised plateau is 128 of an inch higher than the height of the top disc (160) FIG. 6A plateau wall support ring. Next the combined items of the top disc (160) FIG. 6, the rectangle slider bar (120) FIG. 5, the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 and the elastic strap (190) FIG. 7 are placed through the underside of the top case (20) FIG. 2, through the oval cut out (230) FIG. 2 and laid in the carved cut out for the rectangle sliding bar (250) FIG. 2 with the elastic strap facing upwards toward the top case (20) FIG. 2.

The final piece, the insert (35) FIG. 9 needs to be inserted into the underside of top case (20) FIG. 2 with the carved oval cut out (70) FIG. 9, left slider channel (50) FIG. 9 and right slider channel (60) FIG. 9 facing upward toward the top of the top case (20) FIG. 1 aligning with the rectangle's sliding bar (120) FIG. 5 left ½ sphere bar (140) FIG. 5 and the right ½ sphere bar (150) FIG. 5 and the bottom of the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 fitting into the carved oval cut out (70) FIG. 9.

Various embodiments of the invention are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the plastic case mold to fit firmly around the appropriate portable electronic device with the appropriate sized openings for all cameras, microphones, camera flashes, speakers, communication connections, push buttons, etc. for the portable electronic device operations and speaker openings. In some embodiments, the underside of the molded base case contains a plurality of additional elements that will be molded into the base of the case. First, the case may have the appropriate size dimension opening for any built in camera, microphone and camera flash (80) FIG. 9. Second, the top case (20) has one key plateau (30) FIG. 2. The top case key plateau (30) FIG. 2 at the top of the case, centered to the width of the case (20) FIG. 2 is meant to be aligned to the female insert key cutout opening (40) FIG. 9, to allow for a proper align fit. Next there are two identical channels on opposite sides of the insert (35) FIG. 9, the left slider channel (60) FIG. 9 and the right slider channel (50) FIG. 9, which allow the rectangle sliding bar (120) FIG. 5 to slide freely up and down the molded case.

FIG. 3.

FIG. 3, the bottom disc (90), with a center bottom disc raised plateau diameter equal that to the inside diameter of the top disc (160) FIG. 6 plateau wall support ring (175) FIG. 6. The raised plateau has a bottom disc strap cutout (112) FIG. 3 to allow the elastic strap to lay flat between the top disc (160) FIG. 6 top disc strap cutout (170) FIG. 6 and the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 bottom disc strap cutout (112) FIG. 3. Additionally there are two identical bottom disc key (100) FIG. 3 on opposite sides of the plateau that will be utilized for proper alignment of the top disc (160) FIG. 6 with the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3. These keys will allow the alignment to be made to the top disc (160) FIG. 6 by fitting into the top disc key's cutout (180) FIG. 6. Finally two identical bottom disc screws (116) FIG. 3 to be used to secure the top disc (165) FIG. 6 to the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3.

FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 depicts a cross section view of the bottom disc (90) FIG. 4, top disc (160) and depicts how the strap will be wrapped around the top disc (160) and the position between the top disc (160) and the bottom disc (90). The illustration show's the cross section view of the two identical screw holes, top disc screw holes (165) and the bottom disc screw holes (116), and how the alignment between the two components will make a tight connection when two screws are inserted into the holes. Finally, a cross sectional view of the top disc (160) plateau wall support ring (175) showing how the bottom disc (90) bottom disc raised plateau fits (110) into the plateau wall support ring (175).

FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the rectangle sliding bar with a center opening with an diameter equal to that of the top disc (160) FIG. 6 plateau wall support ring (175) FIG. 6 plus 128 of an inch, as depicted in FIG. 5 (120). The additional 128 of an inch in the size of the rectangle sliding bar hole allows the top disc (160) FIG. 6 and the bottom disc (90) to freely spin 360 degrees when all three components are combined and attached via the metal screws as described earlier in this document. On both ends of the rectangle sliding bar is ½ sphere bars, as depicted in FIG. 5 (140) and (150) running the width of the rectangle sliding bar. The ½ sphere bars are positioned on the rectangle sliding bar with the closed sphere shape pointing downward. The ½ sphere bars will lie in the left and right slider channels respectfully of the insert (35) FIG. 9 left slider channel (50) FIG. 9 and right slider channel (60) FIG. 9, as depicted in FIG. 16 (50) and (60). With the rectangle sliding bar being sandwiched between the top and bottom disc, as depicted in FIG. 11 (160) and (90), the elastic strap will be a catalyst for the human finger/hand the ability to slide up and down approximately 76% of the length of the case.

FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the bottom of the top disc view. On the underside of the disc, there is a plateau wall support ring (175) with a cutout that is referred to as top disc strap cutout (170) that will house one end of the elastic strap (190) FIG. 7 underneath the top disc (160). The plateau wall support ring (175) will encompass the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 bottom disc raised plateau (110) FIG. 3. On the underside of the top disc (160), two identical top disc screw holes (165) FIG. 6 are created to make the secure connection between the top disc (160) FIG. 6 and the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3. Additionally two identical top disc keys cutouts (180) FIG. 6 are also molded into the plateau wall support ring (175) FIG. 6 allowing for the alignment of the holes to the bottom disc screw holes (116) FIG. 3.

FIG. 6A,

FIG. 6A illustrates one example of the components of the top view of the top disc. In this example, the top disc contains two identical slits, the same width of the strap and the thickness of the opening I slightly smaller than the thickness of the elastic strap, in the top of the disc. The top disc strap slits (185) FIG. 6A are used to feed the elastic strap (190) FIG. 7 ends through to the underneath of the top disc (160) FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the elastic strap (190) FIG. 7 running slightly less than the diameter of the top disc which will be secured to itself underneath top disc (160) FIG. 6A via a common spur washer thus allowing the finger(s) to slide and spin the case as depicted in FIG. 11.

FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 depicts an example of the bottom view of the insert having the U groove 30 degree opening (240) for the camera, microphone and the camera flash cut out.

FIG. 9.

FIG. 9, the insert (35), contain a plurality of cut outs. First, the case may have the appropriate size dimension opening for any built in camera, microphone and camera flash (240). Second, one insert key cutout opening (40) to align with the top case (20) FIG. 2, top case key plateau (30) FIG. 2 to create a tight fit between the components. Third, a left slider channel (50) and a right slider channel (60), positioned near the edges of the base case that are approximately 65% of the length of the case, that allows the rectangle sliding bar (120) FIG. 5 along with the top disc (160) FIG. 6 and bottom disc (90) FIG. 4 to freely slide up and down the case. These ½ sphere channels (50) and (60) provide the sliding capability of the device according to some embodiments described herein. When the top disc (160) FIG. 6, rectangle sliding bar (120) FIG. 5 and the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 are snapped together, the rectangle's ½ spheres bars need to be laid in the 2½ sphere channels, giving the elastic strap (190) FIG. 11, top disc (160) FIG. 11 and rectangle sliding bar (120) FIG. 11 the capability to slide up and down the case. Fourth, the carved oval opening (70), carved out in the insert that spans approximately 76% of the length of the case and has a width of approximately 72% of the case. When the following components of the elastic strap (190), the disc top disc (160) FIG. 6, the rectangle sliding bar (120) FIG. 5 and the bottom disc (90) FIG. 3 are securely connected in said order with the ½ sphere bars of the rectangle sliding bar laid in the 2 open channels of the base case (20) FIG. 1, their formation and placement in the base case will produce the spinning and sliding functionality for the case.

FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a completed assembled portable electronic case according to some embodiments herein from a left complete perspective view.

FIG. 12

FIG. 12 shows an example of a completed assembled portable electronic case according to some embodiments herein from a right complete perspective view.

FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 shows an exploded top perspective view of an example of a complete case according to some embodiments herein.

FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 shows an exploded right bottom perspective view of an example of the complete case according to some embodiments herein.

Although the preceding descriptions contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. If the portable electronic device is as large as an IPAD, then the strap apparatus could be in the center of the case or an offset to either the left or right side of the case. As an example, the physical dimensions of the oval cut on the top plate as well as the carved oval cut out in the base case along with all the sub components could take many different variations in sizes depending on the size of the portable electronic case. Such variations would not materially alter the nature of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A case for portable electronic devices, the case comprising: a. a base case molded and configured to hold a portable electronic device; b. an insert plate that allows the ease of sliding of components through the use of channels on the sides of an insert; c. a top disc to host an elastic strap; d. a rectangle sliding bar giving components the ability to slide up and down the case; e. a bottom disc; and f. a strap configured to secure fingers to the top disc. 